Being named Miss Wayland 2011 in the first scholarship/beauty pageant she ever entered has led to a surprising new adventure for Jovanna Barrera - competing for the title of Miss Texas USA.

Barrera, who is a senior at Wayland Baptist University and employed as an intern at HCSB, initially entered the Miss Wayland competition in search of scholarships.

"I entered the Miss Wayland contest last November for the opportunity to earn a scholarship," she says, adding that she also wanted to represent the university she loves. And, while being in the spotlight is old hat for her (she's been singing in public since she was a little girl and had a CD cut when she was 12), competing in a pageant was a new experience.

The Miss Texas USA offer came as a direct result of her Miss Wayland title.

"Back in February I received a letter from Miss Texas USA officials saying that I'd been selected to compete in this year's Miss Texas USA Pageant representing Plainview.

"At first, I thought it was a joke or a scam," she says, laughing. "I showed it to my parents and after researching it on the Miss Texas USA website, we decided it looked legit."

She explains that the Miss Texas USA pageant is not affiliated with Miss Wayland, but her name and title caught their attention. The letter also requested a profile and photos.

"With a very low budget or no budget at all, I recruited a good friend of mine, Cody Peitz, who had just graduated from photography school, to take pictures of me," Barrera says. "I think he did a fabulous job. We sent off a couple of head shot photos to Houston."

Along with the photos, Barrera sent in a comprehensive profile and judges form before being selected Miss Plainview.

She will compete in the Miss Texas USA Sept. 2-4 at the Hilton in Houston.

"To my understanding it's a 3-day event with swimwear preliminaries on Friday evening and interview preliminaries on Saturday evening with the final showing on Sunday. That will include evening gown competition and the final five semifinalist question event."

Contestants are allowed to select their outfits within a color range. For instance, the only requirement for swimwear is that it be either a solid shade of blue or yellow.

"I chose a cobalt blue Victoria's Secret swimsuit."

Contestants will wear white shorts and a yellow top of their choice in the pageant opening segment when they're introduced. For her interview outfit, Barrera chose a fitted dress by Jones New York, and her evening gown is a white fitted Jovani gown accented with pearls, sequins and rhinestones.

"Which brings me to our next eye-opener in pageant competition," Barrera says. "I had no idea how much designer gowns cost!

"I had a private fitting at one of the local designer stores in Houston and tried on about six dresses. Of course, I fell in love with one. My first clue should have been when I didn't see a price tag on the dress - that particular gown was $5,500!

"Needless to say my mom (Frances) said we'd get back with them. I finally found my dress at a designer store in Dallas for a fourth of the cost, and I think it's prettier!"

Barrera says there are several reasons she got a good deal on her pageant gown, including shopping during a pageant lull in the market. The Miss Texas USA Pageant is separate from the Miss Texas Pageant, which was held in July in San Antonio, so bargains were more plentiful.

"I really believe the reason I got such a great price on my gown was because I went at an off-peak time, which was my gain. When I was looking in Houston, the designer stores were at their peak season - lesson learned!"

Another pageant wardrobe restriction, Barrera said, is that shoes can't be higher than four inches.

Barrera says that being named Miss Plainview by the pageant judges instead of entering a group pageant, she doesn't have an official local sponsor, so she's responsible for all charges connected with the competition - from housing to clothing. Generous friends and family members have contributed to her expenses.

Another new pageant innovation is that competitors aren't allowed to bring their hair stylists and make-up artists with them.

"This year will be the first year that contestants will have to do their own hair and makeup, so for a girl who doesn't wear ‘stage makeup' every day, I'm having to practice a lot," she says.

Being new to the pageant process, Barrera and her mother relied on information from a Miss Texas USA orientation held in Houston in July.

"The orientation gave me a whole new respect for pageants. It's not all about looks. It is about the ‘all-around' young lady who can balance her life and career.

"I had the opportunity to meet Ana Rodriguez, the current Miss Texas USA, as well as a number of past Miss Texas USAs. The organizers had numerous speakers to help us - from interview coaches to fitness, hair and make-up artists to a designer gown style show."

Once Barrera and the other 122 young women competing to become the 59th Miss Texas USA arrive at their headquarters hotel, they will be assigned a roommate and will not be allowed to leave the premises until the pageant is over.

"We will either be practicing for routines and/or will begin the interview process on Friday night - which means that first group of girls will not only do swimwear that night but also interview," she explains, adding, "I hope I'm in the second group."

While pageant competition is new and a little scary to Barrera, she will have a support team in Houston. Her parents, Frances and Joe, her brother, Jarred, her boyfriend, Jamie Martinez and his parents, Oscar and Ofelia Martinez of North Garland, plus numerous friends from Houston and surrounding towns will be in the audience.

Hometown supporters who can't make the pageant can participate in deciding the People's Choice Award. Go online to www.misstexasusa.com and click on "View 2012 Contestants."

"You'll see a short note on the People's Choice Award where one can donate $1 for a vote for Barrera," Frances explains. "That money will be donated to Military Moms & Wives of Brazoria County. This group sends care packages to troops from all areas of the country that are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan."

Anyone who wants to drop off a donation may do so to Jovanna or Frances at HCSB's downtown location or to Joe at Bill Wells Chevrolet,

"We'll be sure to take those donations and cast Plainview's votes for Barrera and for a great cause," Frances says.

While the opportunity to compete in a statewide pageant fell in her lap, Barrera says it has been a great experience.

"I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I keep telling myself that not every girl gets this opportunity.

"I want to thank all sponsors who have donated to my expenses. I especially want to thank Wayland, the Plainview Herald and my employer, HCSB, for their ongoing support.

"I'm going to do my best to represent first my God, my family and my hometown of Plainview!

"Keep me in your prayers that God and the judges will find favor in me."